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Published Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010 | 1:41 p.m.
Updated Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010 | 1:47 p.m.
The health care overhaul was never expected to go unchallenged in Congress, but this week, lawmakers made an earlier-than-expected move from tongue-lashing to taking actual legal steps to change the law.
Several leading congressional Republicans, including senate caucus chief Mitch McConnell and soon-to-be-House Speaker John Boehner, are filing friend of the court briefs to support a consortium of state attorneys general challenging the constitutionality of the health care overhaul Congress passed earlier this year.
The suit, which Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum filed almost immediately after Obama signed the health care overhaul into law, questions the legality of the participatory mandate. He and 19 other attorneys general – including Nevada’s – say if the government can tax people for not having health insurance, it could force them to buy anything.
But economists supportive of the new law say that requiring participation is the only way to bring about a near-universal health care system, and that a near-universal system is the only way to effectively bring down health care costs – which now amount to a staggering 20 percent of the entire country’s economy.
Republican lawmakers and governors were joined by business associations in filing briefs for the plaintiffs challenging the legitimacy of the health care law. Several Democratic governors from states such as Colorado, Iowa, Michigan, and Oregon, filed briefs supporting the government and the health care law. Six major hospital associations – representing nearly all hospital care centers in the country – have also filed in support of the government and the health care law. Friday was the deadline for submissions.
Regardless of how this legal process goes however, the GOP is expected to take the opportunity presented by Republicans controlling the House to try to repeal the health care law.
Anticipation of that may be why Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus of Montana announced Friday that he would be introducing a bill to repeal one part of the health care law that has proven to be a lightning rod for controversy: 1099 requirements.
Small businesses have raised a general outcry that the health care bill’s IRS reporting requirements would create a crippling paperwork load.
“I have heard small business loud and clear,” Baucus said. “Small businesses are the backbone of our economy…and they need to focus their efforts on creating good-paying jobs – not filing paperwork.”
Reid said before the Congressional recess that the 1099 reporting requirements would be a subject Congress would have to address by year’s end.
By striking one of the most widely-criticized portions of the health care law, Baucus’ measure could potentially take some of the venom out of calls for repeal. But it is unlikely to deter House Republicans from attempting to repeal further sections of this year’s overhaul.
A direct challenge by the Republicans to the Health Care Law enacted by Congress -is a direct attack to the middle class- or whatever is left after Republican dominated administrations!!
OK then, lets just have the public option!!
The Republicans are only for insurance company profits, not public health. They want these companies to be able to not insure babies for pre-existing conditions, drop you if you get sick, and not have to provide you with free innoculations.
It is despicable, and the Democrats need to stand up to these ghouls!
Look at old Sherm at the RJ. Suffers major medical problems and instead of getting completely fired, he is keep on as a "consultant," I assume while retaining medical benefits.
This is why the average person needs the Healthcare Bill. We all don't have rich employers who will set-up a "make-work job" to keep our medical benefits from expiring if we are fired or demoted to part-time status.
Also, to Heidi Harris, who never reads the Sun, or the comments to Sun articles, "I just happened to read them, but I never do...blah blah..." Yeah, really, I don't think it is "nasty" to point out the hypocrisy of people who would deny health-care to millions of people, at the same-time working a "sweetheart deal" to maintain theirs.
Also, the RJ dumped on the endoscopy clinic verdict as well. So when the "private sector" medical care that they claim is the "best" fails...they don't want them to be held responsible.
I do wish the guy the best of health, but let us look at the facts: Sherman Fredrick is a walking pre-existing condition. He can't get affordable healthcare in the individual market. Even a wealthy person can be wipped out by medical bills. The only options he has are government: Medicare, medicaid, Cobra, Obamacare, or government related: bankruptcy.
Sherm is the guy who embrasses the Reagan mantra "government is part of the problem, not part of the solution." Of course Reagon got his medical care in his last years from who? "the government."
This last election was met with the fact that obama should have spent more time on creating jobs at least that's what we were told by the GOP and now the GOP will spend time trying to repeal it instead of trying to create jobs Imagine that.
I dare the Republican Party, on every level, to pursue repeal of national health care reform. The talk needs to stop. They need to carry through with their rhetoric. It's time to put up or shut up.
Because, if they try and fail, or if they succeed, the American voters will take note of their actions.
And every action has consequences.
For the first time ever, the American people have quality, comprehensive and affordable health care. Where it is a right for all people, and not just a privilege for the filthy rich. Where the American people are not going to be victimized by big businesses like health insurance companies.
Although it needs a bit of improvement, it is a big first step that will end up not only saving people money, but the government as well.
The Republican Party fails to understand something. And it's this: When you give something to the American people, something that has been strived for about one hundred years or so, something that proves of value for everyone...and then you take it away, with no hint of anything to replace it with, there WILL be consequences.
And the results will be catastrophic for the Republican Party.
If health care reform is repealed, the next elections we will see the Republican Party totally and utterly destroyed. Vaporized before our eyes.
Not one Republican will ever set foot in office ever again.
People will remember. Voters. You make us mad, there are consquences. Remember that, Republicans. Work with the American people. Not against us. You've been warned.